7 Trade Deadline Targets for the Montreal Canadiens

Filip Chytil

Continuing with the players the Canadiens could target to buy low on, Filip Chytil was the 21st overall pick in 2017 and has scored 39 goals and 83 points in 223 games with the Rangers. Last season, he put up 8 goals and 22 points in 42 games (a pace of 15 goals and 43 points) while averaging just 13:14 a night. This season hasn’t gone as smoothly, however, as Chytil has scored just 5 goals and 12 points in 41 games. The Czech centreman may not be relied upon for important faceoffs – his 43.27% this year is a career-high – but his skill is undeniable and could be fostered under Martin St. Louis.

Despite this skill, Chytil has frustrated Rangers fans with his inconsistency and finds himself on the list of players the Rangers could move to acquire assets for their playoff run. Along with the skill, the Canadiens should be interested in him as he is having a down year production-wise (making him expendable and tanking his value) and is underperforming his average shooting percentage. His 6.33% this year is quite a bit lower than his previous career average of 9.88%. His PDO of .981 also demonstrates the lack of bounces he’s received (and that in front of Hart-worthy goaltending with Shesterkin).

While Chytil’s value in the eyes of Chris Drury is unknown, we do know that the Rangers have an interest in Artturi Lehkonen, who is having a career year and who would represent a clear “sell high” candidate, especially since he will demand a healthy raise in his final RFA year this offseason. Jeff Gorton was the GM that drafted Chytil and could be interested in re-acquiring the skilled forward. The match for a trade between these two teams is clear, but the composition of this theoretical trade is about to become a bit more complex…